EMBASSY Project Report on a 3-Day Workshop for Healthcare Workers
3-Day Workshop on Training Healthcare Workers and Teachers in Youth-Friendly Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Improved SRH Service Delivery for In-School Youths.
REPORT FOR 3-DAY WORKSHOP FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON PROVISION OF SRH SERVICES FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES UNDER THE ELIMINATING MULTIPLE BARRIERS TO SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICE AMONG YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES (EMBASSY PROJECT) HELD AT UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN CONFERENCE CENTER, IBADAN ON SEPTEMBER 16th to 18th, 2024.
The University of Ibadan Conference Centre hosted a transformative 3-day workshop for healthcare workers under the EMBASSY Project, a key initiative funded by AmplifyChange to address the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of young girls and women with disabilities in Oyo State. This workshop aimed to train healthcare workers in providing inclusive, disability-friendly SRH services and to break down the barriers that often prevent women with disabilities from accessing necessary healthcare.
The workshop began on Monday, September 16th, with healthcare workers from various centers throughout Oyo State coming together with a strong sense of purpose and dedication. The primary objective of the workshop was to empower these frontline professionals with the knowledge, tools, and skills essential for delivering quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to women with disabilities, a marginalized group that frequently encounters significant barriers to accessing healthcare.
DAY 1: DISABILITY, SEXUALITY, AND INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE
The workshop kicked off with an enlightening session by Dr. Martins Ogundeji on Disability and the Community. He provided a comprehensive overview of the various forms of disability. whether physical, mental, or cognitive and how these conditions limit the daily activities of individuals, particularly women in the community. He emphasized the societal and attitudinal barriers that aggravate these challenges, leaving women with disabilities further isolated from education, employment, and healthcare services. Dr. Ogundeji’s session set the tone for the day by stressing the need for a holistic approach that goes beyond the medical aspect and includes social, familial, and governmental support.
Later in the day, Dr. Stella Akinso delivered a thought-provoking lecture on Sexuality and Disability, challenging the deep-seated societal myths surrounding the sexual rights and behaviors of women with disabilities. She highlighted how misconceptions often lead to the dehumanization of these women, denying them their right to fulfilling sexual and romantic relationships. Dr. Akinso’s candid approach to discussing the sexual health needs of women with disabilities provided participants with the critical insight that all individuals, regardless of ability, deserve access to SRH education and services that respect their dignity and desires.
The day concluded with Dr. Titilayo Odetola’s session on Disability-Friendly Healthcare Services. She identified the infrastructural and attitudinal barriers that prevent women with disabilities from accessing healthcare, such as inaccessible facilities, costly services, and untrained medical personnel. Dr. Odetola showed the importance of inclusive care, advocating for affordable and accessible healthcare services, and training healthcare workers to provide compassionate, patient-centered care.
To add practical value to the day’s discussions, participants engaged in sign language learning, enabling them to better communicate with hearing-impaired patients. The inclusion of sign language was a vital step towards creating more inclusive health services.
DAY 2: INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND PRACTICAL SKILLS
Building on the theoretical groundwork laid on Day 1, the second day of the workshop was dedicated to interactive sessions. The participants were guided through role-playing scenarios, where they practiced applying the knowledge gained in real-life healthcare situations. These activities highlighted the practical challenges that healthcare workers may encounter when serving women with disabilities, from communication barriers to addressing sensitive sexual health issues.
Facilitators emphasized the importance of empathy and patience, reinforcing that healthcare workers should approach every patient with an understanding of their unique needs and circumstances. The day ended with another round of sign language training, this time focusing on more complex phrases and medical terminology, ensuring that healthcare workers could engage in meaningful communication with hearing-impaired patients.
DAY 3: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
The final day of the workshop was an opportunity for participants to reflect on the past two days and bring all their learnings together. Healthcare workers participated in a series of group discussions where they shared insights on how the training could be applied within their healthcare centers. The workshop concluded with a sense of accomplishment and readiness, as the participants expressed their eagerness to implement the newly learned practices in their workplaces. Feedback from the healthcare workers was overwhelmingly positive, with the inclusion of sign language training and the focus on the sexual health rights of women with disabilities were particularly impactful.
In conclusion, this 3-day workshop was an important step in the ongoing mission of the EMBASSY Project to eliminate the barriers that women with disabilities face in accessing SRH services. By equipping healthcare workers with both the knowledge and practical skills to provide inclusive care, the workshop has set the stage for lasting change in healthcare delivery for women with disabilities in Oyo State. As the participants return to their respective healthcare centers, they carry with them the tools to foster a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment, ultimately improving the well-being of women with disabilities across the state.
Prepared by; Ifedayo Osemwegie
Advocacy, Strategic Communication and Media Officer
About Us
PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation), was the first independent support group for people with HIV (PHIV) in Oyo State in Southwestern Nigeria. It is on record that we had the opportunity to participate actively and notably in most of these processes.
Quick Link
Contact Us
- 1st Floor, No. 10, Areoye Oyebola Street, Bolarinwa Avenue, Off Ring Road, Ibadan, 200253, Nigeria.
- +234 803 719 0628
- info@planfoundation.org.ng